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"'''My Blood'''" is a song written and recorded by the American musical duo [[Twenty One Pilots]]. The song was released as the fourth single from their fifth studio album, ''[[Trench (album)|Trench]]'', on August 27, 2018. The song peaked at No. 81 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].
"'''My Blood'''" is a song written and recorded by the American musical duo [[Twenty One Pilots]]. The song was released as the fourth single from their fifth studio album, ''[[Trench (album)|Trench]]'', on August 27, 2018. The video for the official audio clip displays Tyler Joseph in a dark home recording studio. The visual came after their trilogy storyline told through the videos for “Jumpsuit,” “[[Nico and the Niners]]” and “Levitate.” An accompanying music video for "My Blood" was released on the morning of October 5, 2018, arriving merely hours after the release of their fifth studio album. The song peaked at No. 81 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].

== Background ==
"My Blood" was released as a the fourth single on the night of August 27, 2018.<ref name="Billboard 12"/><ref name="Nattress"/> It was the latest glimpse into a dark rebel story supporting their fifth studio album ''[[Trench]]''.<ref name="Billboard 12"/> The song's lyrics potentially continue the storyline that first emerged from the three album tracks that had been released so far, "[[Jumpsuit (Twenty One Pilots song)|Jumpsuit]]," "[[Nico and the Niners]]" and "[[Levitate (Twenty One Pilots song)|Levitate]]". They had begun laying out the story of Nico and the Nine, a group appearing to be the new version to the tormented character of [[Blurryface]] and the rebel group the Banditos.<ref name="Billboard 12"/> However, it's unconfirmed if "My Blood" is a continuation of the story encompassing the trilogy of official music videos, but the lyrics do appear to have a maverick spirit in the third verse.<ref name="Billboard 12"/><ref name="Nattress2"/>


== Composition ==
== Composition ==
"My Blood" is a [[disco]]-tipped [[indie rock]] song that lasts for a duration of 3:49 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/twenty-one-pilots-song-my-blood-716513/|title=Hear Twenty One Pilots’ Groove-Driven Song ‘My Blood’|last=Legaspi|first=Althea|date=August 29, 2018|website=Rolling Stone|accessdate=August 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Sheet">{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0191619|title=Twenty One Pilots 'My Blood' Sheet Music in A♭ major - Download & Print|last=Joseph|first=Tyler|publisher=Musicnotes.com|access-date=October 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Review: Twenty-One Pilots Bring Energy-Packed Bandito Tour to St. Paul|url=https://kstp.com/entertainment/twenty-one-pilots-bring-energy-packed-bandito-tour-to-st-paul/5117994/|date=2018-10-22|website=KSTP|language=en|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref> The moody, [[groove (music)|groove]]-driven track contains [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] hooks underpinned with robotic drums and thick [[funk]] generated by rolling, distorted [[bass line]].<ref name="Billboard 12">{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8472582/twenty-one-pilots-funky-my-blood-listen|title=Twenty One Pilots Get Funky on 'My Blood': Listen|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=August 28, 2018|work=Billboard|accessdate=January 2, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Willman">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/twenty-one-pilots-trench-album-review-1202971674/|title=Album Review: Twenty One Pilots - Trench|last=Willman|first=Chris|date=October 7, 2018|website=Variety|accessdate=October 15, 2018}}</ref><ref name="SG 40">{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2025244/best-pop-songs-2018/franchises/2018-in-review/|title=The Top 40 Pop Songs Of 2018|last=DeVille|first=Chris|date=December 13, 2018|website=Stereogum|accessdate=January 2, 2019}}</ref> According to the [[sheet music]] published at Musicnotes.com by [[Alfred Music]], it is written in the [[time signature]] of [[Time signature#Most frequent time signatures|common time]], with a moderately fast [[tempo]] of 109 [[Tempo#Beats per minute|beats per minute]].<ref name="Sheet"/> "My Blood" is composed in the [[Key (music)|key]] of [[A-flat major|A{{flat}} major]] while Tyler Joseph's vocal range spans two [[octave]]s, from the low-note of [[E♭ (musical note)|E♭<sub>4</sub>]] to the high-note of [[E♭ (musical note)|E♭<sub>6</sub>]].<ref name="Sheet"/> The song contains inspirational lyrics.<ref name="SG 40" /> They express the idea not being alone, even when one feels desperately isolated.<ref name="DeVille" /> "My Blood" speaks about remaining loyal to a friend, even when everyone else has deserted them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/twenty-one-pilots-song-my-blood-716513/|title=Hear Twenty One Pilots’ Groove-Driven Song ‘My Blood’|last=Legaspi|first=Althea|date=August 28, 2018|work=Rolling Stone|access-date=September 6, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="DeVille">{{cite web|title=Twenty One Pilots May Not Be For You (Because They’re For Everyone)|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2017586/twenty-one-pilots-trench-review/franchises/the-week-in-pop/|first=Chris|last=DeVille|date=October 11, 2018|website=Stereogum|accessdate=December 19, 2018}}</ref> The musical arrangement builds into an effervescent chorus where Tyler Joseph sings in a [[falsetto]] and cries out, "Stay with me, my blood, you don’t need to run."<ref name="SG 40" /><ref name="Lenniger">{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lyrics/8478493/twenty-one-pilots-my-blood-lyrics|title=Here Are the Lyrics to Twenty One Pilots' 'My Blood'|last=Lenninger|first=Shea|date=2018-10-05|website=Billboard|access-date=2018-12-25}}</ref><ref name="Willman" />
"My Blood" is a [[disco]]-tipped song that lasts for a duration of three minutes and forty-nine.<ref name="Legaspi">{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/twenty-one-pilots-song-my-blood-716513/|title=Hear Twenty One Pilots’ Groove-Driven Song ‘My Blood’|last=Legaspi|first=Althea|date=August 29, 2018|website=Rolling Stone|accessdate=August 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Sheet">{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0191619|title=Twenty One Pilots 'My Blood' Sheet Music in A♭ major - Download & Print|last=Joseph|first=Tyler|publisher=Musicnotes.com|access-date=October 7, 2018}}</ref> The moody, [[groove (music)|groove]]-driven track contains [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] hooks and has a throbbing beat underpinned with robotic drums and thick [[funk]] generated by rolling, distorted [[bass line]].<ref name="Billboard 12">{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8472582/twenty-one-pilots-funky-my-blood-listen|title=Twenty One Pilots Get Funky on 'My Blood': Listen|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=August 28, 2018|work=Billboard|accessdate=January 2, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Willman">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/twenty-one-pilots-trench-album-review-1202971674/|title=Album Review: Twenty One Pilots - Trench|last=Willman|first=Chris|date=October 7, 2018|website=Variety|accessdate=October 15, 2018}}</ref><ref name="SG 40">{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2025244/best-pop-songs-2018/franchises/2018-in-review/|title=The Top 40 Pop Songs Of 2018|last=DeVille|first=Chris|date=December 13, 2018|website=Stereogum|accessdate=January 2, 2019}}</ref> According to the [[sheet music]] published at Musicnotes.com by [[Alfred Music]], it is written in the [[time signature]] of [[Time signature#Most frequent time signatures|common time]], with a moderately fast [[tempo]] of 109 [[Tempo#Beats per minute|beats per minute]].<ref name="Sheet"/> "My Blood" is composed in the [[Key (music)|key]] of [[A-flat major|A{{flat}} major]] while Tyler Joseph's vocal range spans two [[octave]]s, from the low-note of [[E♭ (musical note)|E♭<sub>4</sub>]] to the high-note of [[E♭ (musical note)|E♭<sub>6</sub>]].<ref name="Sheet"/>


Lyrically, "My Blood" is an uplifting number that contains inspirational lines.<ref name="Willman"/><ref name="SG 40" /> The song feature lyrics that illustrate supporting someone who is being attacked after been abandoned by friends.<ref name="Legaspi"/> They convey the idea not being alone, even when one feels desperately isolated.<ref name="DeVille">{{cite web|title=Twenty One Pilots May Not Be For You (Because They’re For Everyone)|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2017586/twenty-one-pilots-trench-review/franchises/the-week-in-pop/|first=Chris|last=DeVille|date=October 11, 2018|website=Stereogum|accessdate=December 19, 2018}}</ref> The song's lyrics retain a maverick spirit within its third verse, where Joseph cryptically raps, "If there comes a day/People posted up at the end of of your driveway/They're callin' for your head and they're callin' for your name/I'll bomb down on 'em, I'm comin' through/Do they know I was grown with you?"<ref name="Billboard 12"/> The musical arrangement builds into an effervescent chorus where Joseph sings in a keening ''[[falsetto]]'' and repeatedly cries out, "Stay with me, my blood, you don’t need to run."<ref name="SG 40" /><ref name="Lenniger">{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lyrics/8478493/twenty-one-pilots-my-blood-lyrics|title=Here Are the Lyrics to Twenty One Pilots' 'My Blood'|last=Lenninger|first=Shea|date=2018-10-05|website=Billboard|access-date=2018-12-25}}</ref><ref name="Billboard 12"/>
== Release ==
A ten-second snippet of the song was played at the end of a commercial for ''Trench'' during the 2018 VMAs on August 20.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/vma/8471351/twenty-one-pilots-my-blood-new-song-teaser-commercial|title=Twenty One Pilots Release Snippet of New Song in 'Trench' Commercial During 2018 VMAs|last=Unterberger|first=Andrew|date=August 20, 2018|website=Billboard|accessdate=September 6, 2018}}</ref> On August 27, 2018, a Twitter user leaked the full song onto his Twitter account in low quality after they found that it could be played on their [[Apple HomePod]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://directlyrics.net/twenty-one-pilots-unleash-new-song-my-blood-listen-here-news.html|title=Twenty One Pilots Unleash New Song "My Blood": Listen Here!|last=Apaza|first=Kevin|date=August 28, 2018|website=Directlyrics|accessdate=September 7, 2018}}</ref> and the song was released onto streaming services later that day as the fourth single from ''[[Trench (album)|Trench]]''.<ref name="Alternative Press Magazine">{{Cite news|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/twenty-one-pilots-my-blood/|title=twenty one pilots soar on soulful new song "My Blood"|last=Trapp|first=Philip|date=August 27, 2018|website=Alternative Press|accessdate=September 7, 2018}}</ref> An audio was uploaded onto [[YouTube]] on the same day.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obcCmQYg9bk|title=twenty one pilots: My Blood [Official Audio]|author=twenty one pilots|date=August 27, 2018|via=YouTube|accessdate=September 6, 2018}}</ref> The audio release of the track included one-shot video footage of frontman Tyler Joseph in a recording studio lined by guitars on the walls. He is seen from behind playing the song's grooving bassline and bobbing his head to the melodies and beat of the track.<ref name="Legaspi"/>


== Reception ==
== Release and promotion ==
“My Blood” is one of four songs Twenty One Pilots released from their fourth studio album, ''Trench''. The duo also coupled the three songs with music videos that serve to form a visual trilogy.<ref name="Reed">{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/twenty-one-pilots-my-blood-video-733480/|title=Twenty One Pilots Salute Sibling Bond in Dramatic ‘My Blood’ Video|last=Reed|first=Ryan|date=September 27, 2018|work=Rolling Stone|access-date=September 27, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> A ten-second snippet of the new song was released by Twenty One Pilots at the end of a commercial for their forthcoming album.<ref name="Unterberger"/> It debuted on August 20, 2018 during the [[MTV Video Music Awards]]. Following short clips taken from their "Jumpsuit" and "Nico and the Niners" music videos, the commercial played a third song.<ref name="Unterberger"/> The audio release of the track included one-shot video footage of frontman Tyler Joseph in a recording studio lined by guitars on the walls. He is seen from behind playing the song's grooving bassline and bobbing his head along to the track's beat and melodies.<ref name="Legaspi"/> While covered in darkness, he is seen playing the hypnotic bass line for the song and bobbing his head.<ref name="Alternative Press Magazine"/><ref name="Billboard 12"/> It featured a disco-sounding groove as well as Joseph singing in falsetto the lines, "Stay with me, my blood."<ref name="Unterberger"/> The lyrics caused fans to speculate that the unreleased track was likely "My Blood," a title from the track listing for ''Trench''  that the duo released earlier that month.<ref name="Unterberger">{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/vma/8471351/twenty-one-pilots-my-blood-new-song-teaser-commercial|title=Twenty One Pilots Release Snippet of New Song in 'Trench' Commercial During 2018 VMAs|last=Unterberger|first=Andrew|date=August 20, 2018|website=Billboard|accessdate=September 6, 2018}}</ref> Joseph had just updated his [[Instagram]] for the first time in over a year with a shot taken from the dark studio session scene.<ref name="Billboard 12"/><ref name="Alternative Press Magazine">{{Cite news|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/twenty-one-pilots-my-blood/|title=twenty one pilots soar on soulful new song "My Blood"|last=Trapp|first=Philip|date=August 27, 2018|website=Alternative Press|accessdate=September 7, 2018}}</ref>
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The song received positive reviews. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' contributor Shea Lenninger called "My Blood" a fresh take on the duo's style and described its chorus as catchy.<ref name="Lenniger"/> Gil Kaufman, from the same publication, quipped that "Twenty One Pilots seemed determined to show us the full breadth of their musical playbook" with the release of the single.<ref name="Billboard 12"/> Citing it among the "fresh tricks" found on ''Trench'', Neil Z. Yeung of [[AllMusic]] applauded Joseph's use of his falsetto range on the track.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/trench-mw0003202493|title=Trench – Twenty One Pilots|last=Yeung|first=Neil Z.|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=August 3, 2019}}</ref> Chris Willman for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called "My Blood" an "uplifting, [[disco]]-tipped track."<ref name="Willman"/> Complimenting its "glowing ’80s chorus," Chris DeVille for ''[[Stereogum]]'' cites the song as ''Trench''{{'}}s "closest thing to a [[Crossover music|pop crossover]] bid."<ref name="DeVille"/> He ranked "My Blood" at number 31 on their "40 Best Pop Songs of 2018" list and remarked, "Hooks on falsetto hooks over an impeccably funky rolling bassline, with inspirational lyrics and effervescent ’80s fizz to boot. Imagine the pools of saliva that would be forming under critics' mouths if this song was by [[the 1975]]."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2025244/best-pop-songs-2018/franchises/2018-in-review/|title=The Top 40 Pop Songs Of 2018|last=DeVille|first=Chris|date=December 13, 2018|website=Stereogum|accessdate=January 2, 2019}}</ref>

== Critical reception ==
⚫
"My Blood" received positive reviews. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' contributor Shea Lenninger called "My Blood" a fresh take on the duo's style and described its chorus as catchy.<ref name="Lenniger"/> Gil Kaufman, from the same publication, quipped that "Twenty One Pilots seemed determined to show us the full breadth of their musical playbook" with the release of the single, praising Tyler Joseph's "keening ''falsetto'' that would make [[the Bee Gees]] proud."<ref name="Billboard 12"/> Citing it among the "fresh tricks" found on ''Trench'', [[AllMusic]]{{'}}s Neil Z. Yeung also applauded Joseph's use of falsetto range on the track.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/trench-mw0003202493|title=Trench – Twenty One Pilots|last=Yeung|first=Neil Z.|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=August 3, 2019}}</ref> Chris Willman for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called "My Blood" an "uplifting, [[disco]]-tipped track."<ref name="Willman"/> Complimenting its "glowing ’80s chorus," Chris DeVille for ''[[Stereogum]]'' cites the song as ''Trench''{{'}}s "closest thing to a [[Crossover music|pop crossover]] bid."<ref name="DeVille"/> He ranked "My Blood" at number thirty-one on their "40 Best Pop Songs of 2018" list and remarked, "Hooks on falsetto [[Musical hook|hooks]] over an impeccably funky rolling bassline, with inspirational lyrics and effervescent ’80s fizz to boot. Imagine the pools of saliva that would be forming under critics' mouths if this song was by [[the 1975]]."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2025244/best-pop-songs-2018/franchises/2018-in-review/|title=The Top 40 Pop Songs Of 2018|last=DeVille|first=Chris|date=December 13, 2018|website=Stereogum|accessdate=January 2, 2019}}</ref>


== Music video ==
== Music video ==
Twenty One Pilots commemorated the release day of their fifth album on October 5, 2018 by premiering the music video for "My Blood."<ref name="Nattress2"/> The video was directed by Tim Mattia and stars actors Trent Culkan and James Bud.<ref name="Jamieson">{{Cite news|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/twenty-one-pilots-trench-my-blood-video|title=Twenty One Pilots Are Celebrating The Release Of ‘Trench’ With The Video For ‘My Blood’ - News - Rock Sound Magazine|last=Jamieson|first=Brii|date=|work=Rock Sound|access-date=October 24, 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> It follows after a story trilogy told in the first three videos from their studio album, "Nico and the Niners," "Jumpsuit" and "Levitate."<ref name="Kaufman">{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8478417/twenty-one-pilots-my-blood-video|title=Twenty One Pilots Channel 'Fight Club' in Emotional 'My Blood' Video: Watch|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=September 27, 2018|work=Billboard|access-date=September 27, 2018}}</ref> For the album's fourth single, Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun decided to take a different approach.<ref name="Nattress"/> Twenty One Pilots temporarily departing from their album's thematic narrative of battling Banditos for the music video for "My Blood."<ref name="Kaufman"/><ref name="Jamieson"/> The emotional video instead tells the story of a brotherly bond.<ref name="Lenniger">{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lyrics/8478493/twenty-one-pilots-my-blood-lyrics|title=Here Are the Lyrics to Twenty One Pilots' 'My Blood'|last=Lenninger|first=Shea|date=2018-10-05|website=Billboard|access-date=2018-12-25}}</ref> It narrates the story of two brothers whose bond is solidified by a childhood spent with an alcoholic father, portrayed by Tyler Joseph.<ref name="Kaufman"/> In what appears to be an homage to the [[coming-of-age]] novel ''[[The Outsiders (novel)|The Outsiders]]'' by [[S.E. Hinton]], the story features the two brothers, one a loud, instigative troublemaker while the younger is a quiet, shy and senstive [[introvert]].<ref name="Reed"/><ref name="Nattress2"/>
On September 27, 2018, the day of the album's release, an official music video for the song was premiered on YouTube.<ref>{{Citation|last=twenty one pilots|first=|title=twenty one pilots: My Blood [Official Video]|date=September 27, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mn-FFjIbo8|volume=|pages=|access-date=September 27, 2018}}</ref> It was directed by Tim Mattia and stars Trent Culkin, James Bud and Maximus Birchmore.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/twenty-one-pilots-trench-my-blood-video|title=Twenty One Pilots Are Celebrating The Release Of ‘Trench’ With The Video For ‘My Blood’ - News - Rock Sound Magazine|last=|first=|date=|work=Rock Sound|access-date=October 24, 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> The video is not a continuation of the storyline of the three previous music videos for the album.

The music video begins with two brothers somberly watching their father soothing their mother who is laying in a hospital bed.<ref name="Nattress2"/> The dramatic video unfolds a story where the duo honor an unwavering brotherly bond.<ref name="Reed"/><ref name="Lenniger">{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lyrics/8478493/twenty-one-pilots-my-blood-lyrics|title=Here Are the Lyrics to Twenty One Pilots' 'My Blood'|last=Lenninger|first=Shea|date=2018-10-05|website=Billboard|access-date=2018-12-25}}</ref> The video focuses on the pair of siblings as children and teenagers, alternating back and forth between [[Adolescence|adolescent]] mischief and the [[childhood trauma]] of watching their mother in the hospital.<ref name="Reed"/><ref name="Nattress2"/> They are frequently at odds with jocks at their high school whom they taunt and perpetually seem to be on the edge of fighting.<ref name="Kaufman"/> The brother are an inseparable pair of high school outcasts, with the more rebellious brother taking the other under his arm. As he and his brother wander small-town streets, the edgier character shatters a mailbox, confronts the local group of jocks and chugs from a flask.<ref name="Reed"/> The narrative piece builds and climaxes with an intense fight at a Halloween party where Twenty One Pilots are performing as house band.<ref name="Nattress2"/><ref name="Reed"/> The situation further intensifies at the party, where the sibling arrive dressed in skeleton outfits and dance to the house band.<ref name="Kaufman"/><ref name="Nattress2"/> When the football players realize who the masked pair are, they follow them home and beat up the older brother.<ref name="Nattress2"/><ref name="Kaufman"/>  This promptis the timid yet protective younger brother to charge forward and attack them with a baseball bat, chasing them off.<ref name="Kaufman"/><ref name="Nattress2">{{cite web|author=Nattress, Katrina|title=Twenty One Pilots Reveal Emotional 'My Blood' Video|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2018-10-05-twenty-one-pilots-reveal-emotional-my-blood-video/|work=[[iHeartRadio]] |publisher= |date=October 5, 2018 |accessdate=December 25, 2018}}</ref> However, in a twist, that is merely the beginning of the video's narrative.<ref name="Nattress"/>


===Reception===
The video opens with a shot of a young boy (Maximus Birchmore) watching his dying mother. His older brother enters the room and comforts him. As they grow up, their father turns to alcohol and the older brother becomes a father figure towards his younger sibling and the two form a strong bond. Years later, they attend a [[Halloween]] house concert, dressed as skeletons, with Twenty One Pilots performing the song. When the brothers return home after the party, a group of jocks whom the older brother had taunted earlier, appear on their driveway and attack the older brother once he goes outside to confront them. The younger brother in a state of panic quickly picks up a baseball bat, before running outside and fending the group off, afterwards bringing his injured brother back into the house. His brother disappears as they enter the house. Through a series of flashbacks showing previous scenes from the video without the older brother, it's shown that he did not exist, and was just a creation by the younger brother to help himself cope with the death of his mother and his father's alcoholism. The video ends with the younger brother sitting alone on the couch inside of his house.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/twenty-one-pilots-my-blood-video-733480/|title=Twenty One Pilots Salute Sibling Bond in Dramatic ‘My Blood’ Video|last=Reed|first=Ryan|date=September 27, 2018|work=Rolling Stone|access-date=September 27, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8478417/twenty-one-pilots-my-blood-video|title=Twenty One Pilots Channel 'Fight Club' in Emotional 'My Blood' Video: Watch|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=September 27, 2018|work=Billboard|access-date=September 27, 2018}}</ref>
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''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s Gil Kaufman describe the music video as both "deep" and "affecting" while comparing it to the 1999 film ''[[Fight Club]]''.<ref name="Kaufman"/> The video for "My Blood" was named one of the top ten best alternative music videos of 2018 by [[iHeartRadio]], with columnist Katrina Nattress claiming it "has one of the most jaw-dropping twists at the end."<ref name="Nattress">{{Cite web|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2018-12-14-top-10-alt-music-videos-of-2018/|title=Top 10 ALT Music Videos of 2018|last=Nattress|first=Katrina|date=December 14, 2018|website=iHeartRadio|language=en|access-date=December 25, 2018}}</ref>


== Live performance ==
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The clip was named one of the top ten best alternative music videos of 2018 by [[iHeartRadio]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2018-12-14-top-10-alt-music-videos-of-2018/|title=Top 10 ALT Music Videos of 2018|last=Nattress|first=Katrina|date=December 14, 2018|website=iHeartRadio|language=en|access-date=December 25, 2018}}</ref>
Twenty One Pilots performed "My Blood" for a two-hour set at [[Xcel Energy Center]] in [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul|Minneapolis–St. Paul]] during the fifth venue stop of thier [[Bandito Tour]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Long, Sarina |title=Review: Twenty-One Pilots Bring Energy-Packed Bandito Tour to St. Paul|url=https://kstp.com/entertainment/twenty-one-pilots-bring-energy-packed-bandito-tour-to-st-paul/5117994/|date=2018-10-22|website=[[KSTP-TV|KSTP]]|language=en|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref>


== Track listing ==
== Track listing ==

Revision as of 23:58, 4 September 2020

"My Blood"
Single by Twenty One Pilots
from the album Trench
ReleasedAugust 27, 2018 (2018-08-27)
Genre
Length3:49
LabelFueled by Ramen
Songwriter(s)Tyler Joseph
Producer(s)Tyler Joseph
Twenty One Pilots singles chronology
"Levitate"
(2018) 		"My Blood"
(2018) 		"Chlorine"
(2019)
Audio sample
Music video
"My Blood" on YouTube

"My Blood" is a song written and recorded by the American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. The song was released as the fourth single from their fifth studio album, Trench, on August 27, 2018. The video for the official audio clip displays Tyler Joseph in a dark home recording studio. The visual came after their trilogy storyline told through the videos for “Jumpsuit,” “Nico and the Niners” and “Levitate.” An accompanying music video for "My Blood" was released on the morning of October 5, 2018, arriving merely hours after the release of their fifth studio album. The song peaked at No. 81 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Background

"My Blood" was released as a the fourth single on the night of August 27, 2018.[1][2] It was the latest glimpse into a dark rebel story supporting their fifth studio album Trench.[1] The song's lyrics potentially continue the storyline that first emerged from the three album tracks that had been released so far, "Jumpsuit," "Nico and the Niners" and "Levitate". They had begun laying out the story of Nico and the Nine, a group appearing to be the new version to the tormented character of Blurryface and the rebel group the Banditos.[1] However, it's unconfirmed if "My Blood" is a continuation of the story encompassing the trilogy of official music videos, but the lyrics do appear to have a maverick spirit in the third verse.[1][3]

Composition

"My Blood" is a disco-tipped song that lasts for a duration of three minutes and forty-nine.[4][5] The moody, groove-driven track contains R&B hooks and has a throbbing beat underpinned with robotic drums and thick funk generated by rolling, distorted bass line.[1][6][7] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music, it is written in the time signature of common time, with a moderately fast tempo of 109 beats per minute.[5] "My Blood" is composed in the key of A♭ major while Tyler Joseph's vocal range spans two octaves, from the low-note of E♭4 to the high-note of E♭6.[5]

Lyrically, "My Blood" is an uplifting number that contains inspirational lines.[6][7] The song feature lyrics that illustrate supporting someone who is being attacked after been abandoned by friends.[4] They convey the idea not being alone, even when one feels desperately isolated.[8] The song's lyrics retain a maverick spirit within its third verse, where Joseph cryptically raps, "If there comes a day/People posted up at the end of of your driveway/They're callin' for your head and they're callin' for your name/I'll bomb down on 'em, I'm comin' through/Do they know I was grown with you?"[1] The musical arrangement builds into an effervescent chorus where Joseph sings in a keening falsetto and repeatedly cries out, "Stay with me, my blood, you don’t need to run."[7][9][1]

Release and promotion

“My Blood” is one of four songs Twenty One Pilots released from their fourth studio album, Trench. The duo also coupled the three songs with music videos that serve to form a visual trilogy.[10] A ten-second snippet of the new song was released by Twenty One Pilots at the end of a commercial for their forthcoming album.[11] It debuted on August 20, 2018 during the MTV Video Music Awards. Following short clips taken from their "Jumpsuit" and "Nico and the Niners" music videos, the commercial played a third song.[11] The audio release of the track included one-shot video footage of frontman Tyler Joseph in a recording studio lined by guitars on the walls. He is seen from behind playing the song's grooving bassline and bobbing his head along to the track's beat and melodies.[4] While covered in darkness, he is seen playing the hypnotic bass line for the song and bobbing his head.[12][1] It featured a disco-sounding groove as well as Joseph singing in falsetto the lines, "Stay with me, my blood."[11] The lyrics caused fans to speculate that the unreleased track was likely "My Blood," a title from the track listing for Trench  that the duo released earlier that month.[11] Joseph had just updated his Instagram for the first time in over a year with a shot taken from the dark studio session scene.[1][12]

Critical reception

"My Blood" received positive reviews. Billboard contributor Shea Lenninger called "My Blood" a fresh take on the duo's style and described its chorus as catchy.[9] Gil Kaufman, from the same publication, quipped that "Twenty One Pilots seemed determined to show us the full breadth of their musical playbook" with the release of the single, praising Tyler Joseph's "keening falsetto that would make the Bee Gees proud."[1] Citing it among the "fresh tricks" found on Trench, AllMusic's Neil Z. Yeung also applauded Joseph's use of falsetto range on the track.[13] Chris Willman for Variety called "My Blood" an "uplifting, disco-tipped track."[6] Complimenting its "glowing ’80s chorus," Chris DeVille for Stereogum cites the song as Trench's "closest thing to a pop crossover bid."[8] He ranked "My Blood" at number thirty-one on their "40 Best Pop Songs of 2018" list and remarked, "Hooks on falsetto hooks over an impeccably funky rolling bassline, with inspirational lyrics and effervescent ’80s fizz to boot. Imagine the pools of saliva that would be forming under critics' mouths if this song was by the 1975."[14]

Music video

Twenty One Pilots commemorated the release day of their fifth album on October 5, 2018 by premiering the music video for "My Blood."[3] The video was directed by Tim Mattia and stars actors Trent Culkan and James Bud.[15] It follows after a story trilogy told in the first three videos from their studio album, "Nico and the Niners," "Jumpsuit" and "Levitate."[16] For the album's fourth single, Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun decided to take a different approach.[2] Twenty One Pilots temporarily departing from their album's thematic narrative of battling Banditos for the music video for "My Blood."[16][15] The emotional video instead tells the story of a brotherly bond.[9] It narrates the story of two brothers whose bond is solidified by a childhood spent with an alcoholic father, portrayed by Tyler Joseph.[16] In what appears to be an homage to the coming-of-age novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, the story features the two brothers, one a loud, instigative troublemaker while the younger is a quiet, shy and senstive introvert.[10][3]

The music video begins with two brothers somberly watching their father soothing their mother who is laying in a hospital bed.[3] The dramatic video unfolds a story where the duo honor an unwavering brotherly bond.[10][9] The video focuses on the pair of siblings as children and teenagers, alternating back and forth between adolescent mischief and the childhood trauma of watching their mother in the hospital.[10][3] They are frequently at odds with jocks at their high school whom they taunt and perpetually seem to be on the edge of fighting.[16] The brother are an inseparable pair of high school outcasts, with the more rebellious brother taking the other under his arm. As he and his brother wander small-town streets, the edgier character shatters a mailbox, confronts the local group of jocks and chugs from a flask.[10] The narrative piece builds and climaxes with an intense fight at a Halloween party where Twenty One Pilots are performing as house band.[3][10] The situation further intensifies at the party, where the sibling arrive dressed in skeleton outfits and dance to the house band.[16][3] When the football players realize who the masked pair are, they follow them home and beat up the older brother.[3][16]  This promptis the timid yet protective younger brother to charge forward and attack them with a baseball bat, chasing them off.[16][3] However, in a twist, that is merely the beginning of the video's narrative.[2]

Reception

Billboard's Gil Kaufman describe the music video as both "deep" and "affecting" while comparing it to the 1999 film Fight Club.[16] The video for "My Blood" was named one of the top ten best alternative music videos of 2018 by iHeartRadio, with columnist Katrina Nattress claiming it "has one of the most jaw-dropping twists at the end."[2]

Live performance

Twenty One Pilots performed "My Blood" for a two-hour set at Xcel Energy Center in Minneapolis–St. Paul during the fifth venue stop of thier Bandito Tour.[17]

Track listing

US promotional CD
No.TitleLength
1."My Blood" (album version)3:49
2."My Blood" (instrumental)3:49

Commercial performance

The song debuted at No. 13 on the US Hot Rock Songs the week of September 8, 2018,[18] and peaked at No. 4 on January 8, 2019.[19] It debuted at No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of October 20, 2018, before falling out the following week.[20] It also entered the UK Singles Charts at No. 88 on September 7, 2018, before leaving the chart.[21] Upon the album's release, the song re-entered the chart at a new peak of 62.[22]

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[41] Gold 40,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[42] Gold 10,000‡
United States (RIAA)[43] Gold 500,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kaufman, Gil (August 28, 2018). "Twenty One Pilots Get Funky on 'My Blood': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Nattress, Katrina (December 14, 2018). "Top 10 ALT Music Videos of 2018". iHeartRadio. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Nattress, Katrina (October 5, 2018). "Twenty One Pilots Reveal Emotional 'My Blood' Video". iHeartRadio. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Legaspi, Althea (August 29, 2018). "Hear Twenty One Pilots' Groove-Driven Song 'My Blood'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Joseph, Tyler. "Twenty One Pilots 'My Blood' Sheet Music in A♭ major - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c Willman, Chris (October 7, 2018). "Album Review: Twenty One Pilots - Trench". Variety. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c DeVille, Chris (December 13, 2018). "The Top 40 Pop Songs Of 2018". Stereogum. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  8. ^ a b DeVille, Chris (October 11, 2018). "Twenty One Pilots May Not Be For You (Because They're For Everyone)". Stereogum. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d Lenninger, Shea (2018-10-05). "Here Are the Lyrics to Twenty One Pilots' 'My Blood'". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Reed, Ryan (September 27, 2018). "Twenty One Pilots Salute Sibling Bond in Dramatic 'My Blood' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d Unterberger, Andrew (August 20, 2018). "Twenty One Pilots Release Snippet of New Song in 'Trench' Commercial During 2018 VMAs". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Trapp, Philip (August 27, 2018). "twenty one pilots soar on soulful new song "My Blood"". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  13. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "Trench – Twenty One Pilots". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  14. ^ DeVille, Chris (December 13, 2018). "The Top 40 Pop Songs Of 2018". Stereogum. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  15. ^ a b Jamieson, Brii. "Twenty One Pilots Are Celebrating The Release Of 'Trench' With The Video For 'My Blood' - News - Rock Sound Magazine". Rock Sound. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h Kaufman, Gil (September 27, 2018). "Twenty One Pilots Channel 'Fight Club' in Emotional 'My Blood' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  17. ^ Long, Sarina (2018-10-22). "Review: Twenty-One Pilots Bring Energy-Packed Bandito Tour to St. Paul". KSTP. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  18. ^ "Top Rock Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  19. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History: Top Rock Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-01-07.
  20. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
  21. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  23. ^ "Twenty One Pilots – My Blood" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  24. ^ "Twenty One Pilots – My Blood" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  25. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  26. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201841 into search. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  27. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 41/2018". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  28. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  29. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  30. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  31. ^ "Twenty One Pilots – My Blood". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  32. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201841 into search. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  33. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  34. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  35. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  36. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  37. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  38. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  39. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  40. ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  41. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Twenty One Pilots – My Blood". Music Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  42. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2020 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  43. ^ "American single certifications – Twenty One Pilots – My Blood". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
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